Navy nabs 6 MASSOB members over public disturbance, hoisting of flags in Anambra
The Nigerian Navy on Thursday arrested six members of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) for allegedly causing breach of peace, disturbance and hoisting of unauthorized flags in Onitsha.
Handing over the suspects to the Anambra Police Command, the Commanding Officer of the Naval Out-post, Onitsha, Navy Capt. Mike Oamen, said that navy officials apprehended the MASSOB members after they blocked the Onitsha-Enugu road at Awkuzu Junction.
Oamen said that apart from blocking the road and threatening the peace of law abiding citizens; they begun to hoist some authorized flags before they were apprehended.
“We arrested five of them in Awkuzu Junction at about 1400 hours, including another one of their members, Mr Okechukwu Okoye, caught extorting traders and disturbing the peace of traders and shop owners in Fegge community in Onitsha.
“What we recovered from them included clubs, charms as well as MASSOB flags, bags and caps.
“I solicit that the residents of the state give prompt inform about this gang and any other criminal elements to the joint security taskforce for prompt action.
“These people have no place in civilized and cultured society, whose members are thinking of how to improve their lives and that of humanity.
“Especially in Anambra State where virtually everybody had agreed that peace and security is what is needed to keep the pace of growth of the state,’’ he said.
Receiving the suspects, Mr Temitope Fasugba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), assured that the suspects would face the “music’’; adding that the police command would not allow any group of persons breach the existing security and peace in Anambra.
“I want to laud the Nigerian Navy for this co-operation and synergy as well as assure the residents of the state that the hoodlums apprehended would be prosecuted.
“They would be arraigned in court and justice would take its due course,’’ Fasugba assured.
The names of the five MASSOB members are: Obiora Igweonwu, Chibuzor Ekwe, Lawrence Nwibo, Okechukwu Nwafor and Okechukwu Emeka.
